I know why bad things happen to good people its because they are out of sync with contemporary society. Those of us who grew up with parents who endured the depression were raised with a set of values that no longer work in contemporary society. The process of living through hard times created the reality that once everything is out of the control of the individual the only thing left you have is your reputation. Once all hope, all the accumulated material wealth and ability to improve one's situation financially disappear the true measure of a person is revealed. Those whose identity was wrapped up in material status lost everything, they jumped out of windows or became suicidal. When all trust was shattered by the "dog eat dog" world those who endured did so by being reliable, trust-worthy and loyal to whom or whatever allowed them to put food on the table. They hoped for a better life while they did what ever labor they could find to survive.
Loyalty, trust and reliability are things of the past and are no longer valued by society. The ethical framework of today is contingent on whether or not a person can finagle their way out of it or spin it in a digestible fashion.. The truth only needs to be a sliver or better yet, the truth as one perceives it.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Observation of War June 2007
War Strategy
I have to admit I lack any degree of expertise or knowledge of war strategies, military weaponry and machinery or military structures. I too lack an in depth knowledge of contemporary foreign relations. But what I do happen to posses is a keen ability to make observations. I don’t attend to the news articles regarding the daily transpirations between the US forces and Iraq forces. I find it too gruesome and disheartening to commit personal involvement. From my detached standpoint it appears that there is an imbalanced match between the US and Iraq on a variety of levels.
As much as I have read or thought about the war, I still cannot determine what the US strategy toward Iraq is actually. There seems to be a chase for a shape shifting enemy and a command to maintain order in their country. The military strategy of the US appears to be likened to the thwack the golfer arcade game. Once we pound one golfer down into the ground another golfer pops up in another place.
On the other hand, the military strategy of the Iraqis has consistently and forthrightly appeared to be to take down the financial status of the United States. Everyone has agreed that the 911 attacks were a strategic mission organized through long term planning. The first hit made by the planes on that horrendous day was the primary financial district in our country. Henceforth we have seen an unstoppable increase in need for monetary support for the war efforts and the concomitant increase in the price of oil. The escalating prices of oil could be considered a brilliant strategy on the part of our enemy. The majority of the persons in the highest seats of power are heavily invested in this particular commodity. At the same time the minions of the population rely on oil to maintain their lifestyle from the production, delivery and storage of food, heating and cooling of homes to the often rigorous and energy depleting experience of driving to work to make the money to buy the things that make us feel safe.
What if Iraq predicted that bombing the US would result in a war in their country? What if that was a necessary sacrifice to make on their part to attain the long term goal of destroying our country? What if the war is really a distraction created to allow them to continue with their ultimate goal? What if they know us so well that the plan is and always has been to destroy us through economic means? What happens if they succeed? Civil unrest, we are getting there. Civil war, who is going to protect us from our own insurgents?
I have to admit I lack any degree of expertise or knowledge of war strategies, military weaponry and machinery or military structures. I too lack an in depth knowledge of contemporary foreign relations. But what I do happen to posses is a keen ability to make observations. I don’t attend to the news articles regarding the daily transpirations between the US forces and Iraq forces. I find it too gruesome and disheartening to commit personal involvement. From my detached standpoint it appears that there is an imbalanced match between the US and Iraq on a variety of levels.
As much as I have read or thought about the war, I still cannot determine what the US strategy toward Iraq is actually. There seems to be a chase for a shape shifting enemy and a command to maintain order in their country. The military strategy of the US appears to be likened to the thwack the golfer arcade game. Once we pound one golfer down into the ground another golfer pops up in another place.
On the other hand, the military strategy of the Iraqis has consistently and forthrightly appeared to be to take down the financial status of the United States. Everyone has agreed that the 911 attacks were a strategic mission organized through long term planning. The first hit made by the planes on that horrendous day was the primary financial district in our country. Henceforth we have seen an unstoppable increase in need for monetary support for the war efforts and the concomitant increase in the price of oil. The escalating prices of oil could be considered a brilliant strategy on the part of our enemy. The majority of the persons in the highest seats of power are heavily invested in this particular commodity. At the same time the minions of the population rely on oil to maintain their lifestyle from the production, delivery and storage of food, heating and cooling of homes to the often rigorous and energy depleting experience of driving to work to make the money to buy the things that make us feel safe.
What if Iraq predicted that bombing the US would result in a war in their country? What if that was a necessary sacrifice to make on their part to attain the long term goal of destroying our country? What if the war is really a distraction created to allow them to continue with their ultimate goal? What if they know us so well that the plan is and always has been to destroy us through economic means? What happens if they succeed? Civil unrest, we are getting there. Civil war, who is going to protect us from our own insurgents?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Pros and Cons of Judgement
I have been pondering the utility or judging people and things. Basically it is an attempt to strike a balance between discernment and judgement. Judgement must have some value or I wouldn't struggle so hard to dissuade my child from the superficial judgements she makes. To me it seems as if it is written into the genes, an evolution's tool for survival. Perhaps it is like all things inherent or invented. Once it exists it will be used. In contemporary American society where we are predominantly free from eminent danger it seems to be exercised as a method to set one self apart from someone or some thing. Additionally, I wonder whether it is used as a mechanism to simplify the abundant and complex sets of information. Branding of clothes or products wouldn't be such a popular idea if it didn't create and simplified way for individuals to establish an identity for the self and for others.
Another attribute of judgement is its staying power. Forming a judgement can be instantaneous but dispelling the validity of a judgement can take years. Judgement acts like a thread binding together a reality. If that thread is frayed, the fabric becomes unravelled. Sometimes this type of development leads to catharsis. Other times it can lead to the destruction of the self.
What makes a judgement valuable and a keeper and what makes a judgement invaluable and should be disposed of? Who can tell. There is an old Zen way of thinking that somethings appear good which may end up bad and some things appear bad that bring about something good. Judgement that brings harm to others would appear to be best put to rest. Ultimately harming others is harming oneself. Judgement which protects others and the self would be one type to keep.
Being a simple sort I attempt to bow out of judgements by accepting that only the being greater than the self has the capacity for judgement. The reality is that only if one was free from all encumbrances-physical, material and emotional- would one be in the position to judge with any accuracy. Live life, let others live theirs and pay attention to your surroundings. Those are the qualities of Observations from an Ordinary Life.
In the words of my father and one of my favorite authors who were holy unaware of each other.....So It Goes...
Another attribute of judgement is its staying power. Forming a judgement can be instantaneous but dispelling the validity of a judgement can take years. Judgement acts like a thread binding together a reality. If that thread is frayed, the fabric becomes unravelled. Sometimes this type of development leads to catharsis. Other times it can lead to the destruction of the self.
What makes a judgement valuable and a keeper and what makes a judgement invaluable and should be disposed of? Who can tell. There is an old Zen way of thinking that somethings appear good which may end up bad and some things appear bad that bring about something good. Judgement that brings harm to others would appear to be best put to rest. Ultimately harming others is harming oneself. Judgement which protects others and the self would be one type to keep.
Being a simple sort I attempt to bow out of judgements by accepting that only the being greater than the self has the capacity for judgement. The reality is that only if one was free from all encumbrances-physical, material and emotional- would one be in the position to judge with any accuracy. Live life, let others live theirs and pay attention to your surroundings. Those are the qualities of Observations from an Ordinary Life.
In the words of my father and one of my favorite authors who were holy unaware of each other.....So It Goes...
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